Thu, Nov 29, 2012 -- 9:00 AM

Women in Combat

Staff Sgt. Jennifer Hunt (C) is one of four women suing to allow combat roles for U.S. military women.

Aarti Shahani/KQED

Staff Sgt. Jennifer Hunt (C) is one of four women suing to allow combat roles for U.S. military women.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense on behalf of four female soldiers who fought in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two of the women were awarded Purple Hearts for their combat work. Many women end up in battle, but the military still technically bars women from most direct ground combat. The women bringing suit say that lack of recognition is limiting their potential to be promoted. What role should women play on the battlefield? And do those gender differences matter during war?

Host: Michael Krasny

Guests:

Elizabeth Gill, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California

Rev. Marie de Young, former chaplain in the U.S. Army from 1993-97 and co-author of "Women in Combat: Civic Duty or Military Responsibility?"

Zoe Bedell, Marine captain and one of four plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Department of Defense